This month, I’ve had many Orioles fans ask me on the streets of Baltimore why David Rubenstein, a full year into his new ownership and trying to spread a different image from Peter Angelos with a stunt like this bobblehead promotion this weekend, would continue to deny me legitimate press credentials after 40 years of covering Baltimore sports. So, I wrote this letter to new President Catie Griggs a month ago, a week before Opening Day:
I’m still “under review” and denied media credentials. You’re still under review by every fan of the Baltimore Orioles and every citizen who chipped in $600 million toward your $1.725 billion asset. Be a better person and a better baseball owner than Peter Angelos. Be the noise for truth, accountability and decency. Make “The Next Chapter” a truly inclusive one, David.
As always, time well spent with former Orioles’ TV voice Michael Reghi brings some Baltimore high heat from his home base in Cleveland, as the Guardians arrive and we discuss the importance of reliable starting pitching and great partners to analyze it.
High expectations, young bats and “veteran” starting pitching have been a toxic early-season mix for the Baltimore Orioles, who are scuffling to hit the baseball. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the listless state of Birdland after Tuesday’s loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
As always, time well spent with former Orioles’ TV voice Michael Reghi brings some Baltimore high heat from his home base in Cleveland, as the Guardians arrive and we discuss the importance of reliable starting pitching and great partners to analyze it.
High expectations, young bats and “veteran” starting pitching have been a toxic early-season mix for the Baltimore Orioles, who are scuffling to hit the baseball. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the listless state of Birdland after Tuesday’s loss to the Cleveland Guardians.
Nestor Aparicio and Mark Mussina discuss the return of baseball to Baltimore and the Orioles’ prospects. Mark, a former basketball coach and current county commissioner, shares insights on the challenges of modern baseball, including the decline of star pitchers and the impact of injuries. They also touch on the financial aspects of team ownership, noting the importance of drafting and developing homegrown talent. Additionally, they discuss the role of gambling in baseball and the need for a comprehensive strategy to revitalize the Orioles. The conversation concludes with reflections on the dynamics of rock bands and the importance of maintaining positive relationships.
Barry Bloom of Sportico has spent five decades chronicling the history of labor and ownership in Major League Baseball and shares the financial concerns and strategic challenges facing the sport. He joins Nestor to discus new media, an aging fan base and neophyte ownership groups like the Rubenstein partnership trying to guess at future revenue in order to sign star players to enormous contracts while being gifted $600 million to make Camden Yards a place that lifts downtown Baltimore.
Three decades ago, Mark Mussina did sports radio here in Baltimore when his brother pitched for the Orioles and always returns to Nestor with wisdom from Montoursville, Pennsylvania, where baseball runs in the family and the real business of sports is always clarified.
Streaming, screaming, ducking, hiding, reporting and opining. Mark Viviano and Luke Jones join Nestor for a spirited chat about Orioles expectations and local media attrition in Baltimore at Faidley’s on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour.
Three decades ago, Mark Mussina did sports radio here in Baltimore when his brother pitched for the Orioles and always returns to Nestor with wisdom from Montoursville, Pennsylvania, where baseball runs in the family and the real business of sports is always clarified.
Barry Bloom of Sportico has spent five decades chronicling the history of labor and ownership in Major League Baseball and shares the financial concerns and strategic challenges facing the sport. He joins Nestor to discus new media, an aging fan base and neophyte ownership groups like the Rubenstein partnership trying to guess at future revenue in order to sign star players to enormous contracts while being gifted $600 million to make Camden Yards a place that lifts downtown Baltimore.
His work on the sidelines and field is done at WJZ but longtime sports anchor Mark Viviano isn’t sitting in the stands and watching life unfold – he’s contributing where it matters in our community. Viv joins Nestor at Faidley’s on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour to discuss real life after sports media and serving others across the city via several charities and managing Little League baseball and his two sons.
Ron Cassie of Baltimore Magazine discusses the comeback of our city and Renaissance dreams for downtown
Streaming, screaming, ducking, hiding, reporting and opining. Mark Viviano and Luke Jones join Nestor for a spirited chat about Orioles expectations and local media attrition in Baltimore at Faidley’s on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour.
His work on the sidelines and field is done at WJZ but longtime sports anchor Mark Viviano isn’t sitting in the stands and watching life unfold – he’s contributing where it matters in our community. Viv joins Nestor at Faidley’s on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour to discuss real life after sports media and serving others across the city via several charities and managing Little League baseball and his two sons.
This winter, Baltimore Magazine dedicated its cover to the comeback of our hometown and the whys and stories of its improvement that might be less visible to those of us in on it. Senior Editor (and baseball historian) Ron Cassie discusses the Renaissance dreams for downtown that so many shared with him and ways these Orioles summer nights impact the Inner Harbor and its future investment from Faidley’s in Lexington Market on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour.
Seth Elkin of The Maryland Lottery goes Back To The Future with Nestor as they torpedo into the swing of Home Run Riches and baseball season with Orioles homers for cash.
Seth Elkin of The Maryland Lottery goes Back To The Future with Nestor as they torpedo into the swing of Home Run Riches and baseball season with Orioles homers for cash.
Longtime journalist and author John Miller reports back to Nestor with updates on his upcoming book on the life and mind of Baltimore Orioles Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver and what made him an innovator in baseball with note cards that were a precursor to modern analytics.
It’s up to Nestor’s friends and sponsors to keep him honest. Our pal Bill Cole of Cole Roofing and Gordian Enegry grills Nestor about what he really expects from the Orioles this offseason with new ownership and a team full of young stars waiting on better pitching. And fans waiting on some kind of honest and authentic communication.
It has been a rough spring for the Baltimore Orioles but Opening Day beckons next Thursday in Toronto. Luke Jones and Nestor get ready for the season and discuss the many concerns and high hopes for a roster loaded with young talent that is the envy of Major League Baseball. But…the pitching?
In case you missed Free The Birds in 2006, here’s the book that tells the story of “why” behind the rally and movement that was a direct message to Baltimore Orioles owner Peter G. Angelos. Nestor wrote a book about his Pop’s love of baseball and the hometown Birds.
The music of Rick Emmett and his band Triumph has stood the test of time and his post rock professor and author duties brought together a passion project about his first favorite guitar. The Canadian guitarist returns to talk Blue Jays baseball, returning to a live stage this month and some words of wisdom about American honor and neighbourly trust.
With the news that Grayson Rodriguez and Andrew Kittredge will begin the season off the field, we wonder whether Mike Elias will be out buying more pricey relief pitching in a sport with no salary cap. Luke Jones and Nestor debate the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching needs and the threshold for payroll in the world of David Rubenstein. The money and tough-talk financial realities of small-market MLB in this one…
With the news that Grayson Rodriguez and Andrew Kittredge will begin the season off the field, we wonder whether Mike Elias will be out buying more pricey relief pitching in a sport with no salary cap. Luke Jones and Nestor debate the Baltimore Orioles’ pitching needs and the threshold for payroll in the world of David Rubenstein. The money and tough-talk financial realities of small-market MLB in this one…
The music of Rik Emmett and his band Triumph has stood the test of time and his post rock professor and author duties brought together a passion project about his first favorite guitar. The Canadian guitarist returns to talk Blue Jays baseball, returning to a live stage this month and some words of wisdom about American honor and neighbourly trust.
“What channel is the game on?” It’s a lot more complicated than it used to be – or needs to be. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the MLB ethos on media, streaming and how we find baseball in 2025. And, more importantly, where the new ownership of the Orioles find their fan base with the MASN mess left behind with the Nationals from Team Angelos’ mismanagement and chaos.
“What channel is the game on?” It’s a lot more complicated than it used to be – or needs to be. Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the MLB ethos on media, streaming and how we find baseball in 2025. And, more importantly, where the new ownership of the Orioles find their fan base with the MASN mess left behind with the Nationals from Team Angelos’ mismanagement and chaos.
They are the Elton John and Bernie Taupin of Baltimore sports media – only gathering a few times a year and making podcasts, videos, blogs and radio from two different states for two decades at WNST Baltimore Positive. Luke Jones and Nestor Aparicio convene at Kooper’s North on “A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl” to discuss the direction of 2025 Baltimore Orioles. It’s baseball season, Birdland…
They are the Elton John and Bernie Taupin of Baltimore sports media – only gathering a few times a year and making podcasts, videos, blogs and radio from two different states for two decades at WNST Baltimore Positive. Luke Jones and Nestor Aparicio convene at Kooper’s North on “A Cup Of Soup Or Bowl” to discuss the direction of 2025 Baltimore Orioles. It’s baseball season, Birdland…
They’ve gathered for many years to discuss how to lift the Baltimore sports community and how local business and humans support it all. Finally, Georgetown sports business professor Marty Conway joins Nestor on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Amicci’s in Little Italy to discuss the commerce, media and future of professional sports in Maryland.
They’ve gathered for many years to discuss how to lift the Baltimore sports community and how local business and humans support it all. Finally, Georgetown sports business professor Marty Conway joins Nestor on the Maryland Crab Cake Tour at Amicci’s in Little Italy to discuss the commerce and future of professional sports in Maryland.
Still in denial about the NIL, Nestor Aparicio welcomes Ruffin Bell of Coppin State over to Faidley’s Seafood in Lexington Market for a crab cake and a discussion about Eagles history and future goals. Bell, the marketing and promotion specialist on campus, highlights the success of various sports teams, including the volleyball and baseball teams winning the MEAC and the emerging ladies hoops squad with massive wins over Arizona State and George Washington this month. You can always hear Coppin State sports action on WNST-AM 1570.
So, just what are the Orioles real plans for a payroll under the new stewardship and deep pockets of the Rubenstein group? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the strategy and budget of general manager Mike Elias as the hot stove starts to boil for offseason activities as the MLB Winter Meetings spark a baseball conversation in Baltimore about the future.
Tyler O’Neill and Gary Sanchez are under contract. But what about the pitching? Luke Jones joins Nestor to discuss the first foray into free agency for Mike Elias with the budget of new Orioles ownership and a mandate to bring Baltimore a World Series.
It’s an offseason of mystery not just for Baltimore Orioles fans but for everyone around Major League Baseball wondering where Juan Soto and many others will land. Luke Jones and Nestor get heated with some Hot Stove Orioles chatter as free agency looms and the new ownership comes under the microscope for messaging and intentions for the payroll of Mike Elias.
There is plenty to debate regarding the “new” Baltimore Orioles and offseason with promise and hope for the franchise to take a major step forward under the ownership of David Rubenstein and the deft leadership of Mike Elias. That said, the Friday afternoon news dump of the Camden Yards left field wall and the lack of a free agency splash don’t feel like anything that will excite the fan base.
Still in denial about the NIL, Nestor Aparicio welcomes Ruffin Bell of Coppin State over to Faidley’s Seafood in Lexington Market for a crab cake and a discussion about Eagles history and future goals. Bell, the marketing and promotion specialist on campus, highlights the success of various sports teams, including the volleyball and baseball teams winning the MEAC and the women’s hoops beating Arizona State and George Washington this month. You can always hear Coppin State sports action on WNST-AM 1570.
So, just what are the Orioles real plans for a payroll under the new stewardship and deep pockets of the Rubenstein group? Luke Jones and Nestor discuss the strategy and budget of general manager Mike Elias as the hot stove starts to boil for offseason activities as the MLB Winter Meetings spark a baseball conversation in Baltimore about the future.
